The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-09-10
GOVERNMENT MINIS.
Where the Most Of Uncie Sans silver Dot
lars are Coined.

L
where tho Most Of Uncle Sans silver Dol
| lars arc Coined.
| Says james p. Kimball, Director Of
the United States Mint: "The New
York assay office is the largest and
most important in the United States.
and more Of the precious metals arc
handled hero every year than at all the
other offices combined. Last year this
Office manufactured into bars $4S,321, -
567.74 of gold out of total of S52, 259,-
703.73. and $6,6l1,375.22 of silver out
Of the total of 1871, ,6S076. The affairs
of the office are in perfect shape and
condition, notwithstanding the great
amount of work done here, but we
always expect to find its condition sat
isfactory, and regard it as the model
office of the country. Its business is
systematizcd and is being done by old
and tried employees. Changes in tho
personnel of the Office are made rs sell
dom as possible, and never for political
reasons. 1t is the only acid refinery
belonging to the Government, and gem
orally large quantities of metal to bc
refined are sent here from the other
Offices because the facilities here aro
so much BETTER"
| In answer to the question, why the
mother mint should have been placed
in Philadelphia instead of in New York,
MIR. Kimball said: "Thc mint was es-
tablishcd in Philadelphia when that city
was the seat of government, and so has
since remained there. know that thcro
isa strong feeling that it should be re-
moved either to this city or Washington,
and Philadclphians are constantly fear
ing that such step may be taken. Tho
mint is, ut present, inadequate for its
purpose; but no large appropriation is
asked for fear Congress may say, if it
requires so great u sum to put it in con-
dition, why would it not be II good idea
to build n new mint somewhere else.
At present the steam plant is being re-
newed at the mint. All we could get
for the purpose was 100000, though we
should have had 100000, but tho
authorities feared to ask too large sum,
because it might start the removal agta-
ton that the Phladclphians dread so
much.
1.-The Philadelphia mint was neveri in
tended rs u storage place for tho
precious metals, but we have been COM
PEELED to care for large amounts. We
have some 50,000,0OO of silver dollars
at present stored in the vaults at the old
post-otfice building, not having room for
it in the mint itself. Of course tho
expense of guarding this money is
considerable and the responsibility very
great. We shall be glad when all of this
treasure can be shipped to Washington,
as it will be when the great silver stor-
ing vaults, now being constructed in
the Treasury, are completed. These
new vaults are calculated to hold 5OO,-
100000 Of silver dollars. The most of
the silver dollar coinage is done in
Philadelphia. OF the 100000 silver
dollars coined monthly under the law,
LOO, 900 are struck off in Philadelphia,
and 100000 at New Orleans. Very
little of this coinage is done at the other
mints. and then only in case of emer-
gency.
Just at present we are not coming
the silver dollar ut Philade lphia, be-
cause of the new steam plant which is
being put in, which neccssitated tho
stoppage of the work. There seems to
have been an impression in the minds
of some that the non-coinage OF the
dollar was for the purpose of contrac-
tion, but it is wholly on account of re-
newing our machinery, and just us
soon rs we can get to work again wo
will make up for lost time; but, while
Philadelphia is not at work on the dol
lars, San Francisco is coming 100000
of them to help make up the deficiency.
The making of the silver dollars keeps us
crowded all the time ut Philadelphia,
but the reason why we don't havo
more of the coming done at the other
branch mints is simply because of the
expense of shipping to Washington or
other depository after they are made"
~ Y. Commercial Advertiser.